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The Brythonic Tribes of

The Celtic (Brythonic) tribes of Roman Britain. For a larger version of this map click here or on the map itself (this will open in a new window).

The map on the left shows all the major Celtic (Brythonic) tribes of the British mainland. This is based on Roman records circa 120 CE and therefore includes the Belgic tribes (Belgiae, and , ) that migrated to Britain before the advancing Romans. It should be noted that only the main Brythonic (ie P-Celtic- speaking) tribes of the mainland are shown. There were several smaller tribes whose existence were known and who were either isolated geographically from the main tribes, or allied to them but these are not presented here.

1 of 9 One of the main sources of information about these tribes is from the Roman writer, and much of our information about the tribes of derives from the geographical writings of . However, both authors were writing from a Roman viewpoint and their works have to be treated with some caution when it comes to their descriptions of the tribes, their beliefs and attributes (this is most especially true of the Caledonian [Scottish] tribes). However, by combining the writings of these Roman authors with modern Archaeological research it is possible to paint a broad-brush picture of many of these tribes.

Short Descriptions of the Brythonic Tribes of Roman Britain

Dumnonii In terms of territory, the occupied one of the largest regions of Britain, with their territory occupying modern , and parts of Southern . As a peoples, they did not appear to use coins, nor did they have any large settlements which might act as the political centres for the tribe and (until post-Roman times there is no evidence for a dynasty of Dumnonian kings. As a result most commentators believe that the Dumnonii were in fact a confederation of a number of smaller tribes. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Dumnonii lived in small farmsteads, often surrounded by large walls or ramparts. There is also evidence from pottery that the Dumnonii had strong links with () a link that was maintained well into post-Roman times.

Interestingly, the Dumnonii seem to have presented little resistance to the Roman conquest and as a result the region was never heavily garrisoned. This may be one of the reasons that the Dumnonii never fully-adopted the Roman way of life. The Romans granted them status and their administrative centre was at Isca Dumnoniorum (). In post-Roman times the Dumnonian line became one of the most important of the Brythonic royal houses and many of the early Brythonic kings (including Arthur) claim descent from this royal lineage.

Durotriges The territory of the was centred around modern (though it seems also to have included southern and Somerset as well). The Durotriges lived in a mineral-rich area and minted coins well before the Roman invasion. They also had varying burial practices with one group, centred around modern Dorchester employing inhumation (rather than the more typical cremational) cemeteries. This and the lack of any indication of a royal lineage has led to the supposition that the Durotriges were also a confederation of smaller tribes. Although atypical at the time, the Durotriges represent what we think of today as the archetypal Celtic peoples in that they still occupied . Indeed, many of the most famous hillforts (Maiden Castle, Castle and ) were all occupied by the Durotriges.

Though there was a major port at in the lands of the Durotriges (from which trade with was controlled) the Durotriges themselves seem to have been disdainful of these imported goods and tended to use local pottery produced at Harbour. During the time of the Roman invasion the Durotriges put up a spirited opposition, and if Suetonius is to be believed then the Durotriges represent on of the two tribes that fought against and the second legion. Despite their opposition, the Durotriges were made into a civitas after the conquest, with an administrative capital at (Dorchester). About half a century later and a second Durotrigian civitas was created, this time administered from ().

Belgiae The Belgiae seem to present something of a mystery to us. The name itself is probably Roman, who applied the term Belgiae to almost all the tribes of north-western Gaul. As a result the Belgiae of Britain were probably not a native Brythonic tribe, but rather may represent an influx of peoples from Gaul who were probably not of the same tribe but aggregated together because of shared language and culture.

2 of 9 Even the territory occupied by these Belgiae is something of a mystery. In his , Ptolemy records the territory of the as including the areas of modern and Bath as well as an unidentified settlement he called Ischalis. This would seem to give the tribal area a very strange shape and would squash it between the lands of the much stronger Durotriges, Atrebates and . Yet, it is known that the administrative capital of the Belgae was at (Winchester) so that Ptolemy may be correct. Perhaps the lands of the Belgae represent a carve-up by the extant colonial powers (the Romans) and thus it may well have been an artificial creation (something similar happened to the realm of the Regni, as described below).

Regni Before the Roman conquest the area of West occupied by the Regni during Roman times was a part of the lands of the Atrebates. Partly because of existing strong links with Gaul and partly due to the rise of a new ruler (Togidubnus) and the surrounding area became an important centre in the period just prior to the Roman invasion and also served as one of the bases for the Roman invasion itself. Because of the aid afforded to the Romans by Togidubnus Chichester and the surrounding area became a client kingdom rather than a direct part of the of (until Togidubnus' death at least). With the passing of Togidubnus the territory of the Atrebates was split into three separate civitae with the Regni being the civitas centred on Chichester that administered . It may be that the Regni were a separate tribe, a client of the Atrebates; though it is equally possible that this 'tribe' is a Roman invention.

Cantiaci These were the peoples of northern and western (and it is from them that Kent itself derives its name). The Cantiaci had very strong links with northern Gaul and they buried their dead in the Gaulish manner (the burial of cremated remains). It is quite possible that the Cantiaci were an admixture of native peoples and immigrants from northern Gaul, which would certainly explain the links between these peoples. Prior to the Roman conquest the Cantiaci became a member of the large confederation of peoples led by Cunobelinus and after the conquest they became an independent civitas centred around their principal settlement at Durovernum Catiacorum ().

Trinovantes The are first mentioned by in his de Bello Gallico (on the ), appearing the account of his (abortive) invasion of Britain in 54 BCE. From Caesar's account it seems as if by this time the Trinovantes were already engaged in a power struggle with the neighbouring Atrebates and the tribes that were soon to be forged into the under the leadership of to the west. Though there may already have existed some kind of relationship between the Catuvellauni, the Trinovantes and the Cantiaci in that they shared funerary practices, agricultural practices and used money as well as eating from plates and drinking from cups. The king of the Catuvellauni, Cunobelinos eventually forged the Catuvellauni, Cantiaci and Trinovantes into a single large kingdom, establishing as a new royal site. This was one of the reasons that Colchester became a major target for ' invasion of Britain in 43 CE. However, the alliance was disbanded after the Roman invasion and the Trinovantes were restored as a tribal entity, with a tribal capital at (Colchester).

Atrebates The Atrebates are another Brythonic tribe that share a name with a Gaulish tribe that inhabited modern-day . In this case the name of the tribe is suggestive of their nature, as Atrebates can be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements: *attrebƒ (settlement) and *atē (they who). Thus the Atrebates are 'they who [form] settlements', or more succinctly 'the settlers'. It may well be that the Atrebates were peripatetic by nature, forming settlements as they traversed the breadth of Europe. Of these settlements only the ones in Britain and Belgium survived into historic times. The Belgic and British tribe may well have had strong links even into Roman times. It is certainly true that Commas, leader of the Belgian Atrebates fled to Britain during Julius Caesar's Gallic wars and that a then appears as the ruler of the British Atrebates.

At the time of the Roman invasion they were second only to the Catuvellauni in terms of power and like their neighbours they minted their own coins and had numerous contacts with Gaul. At the height of their power Aterbatian lands stretched from modern-day West Sussex all the way up to and . The extent of their territory suggests that they were a conglomeration of tribes ruled over by a single dynastic family. Certainly, the peoples subsequently known as the Regni were part of the Atrebates prior to the Roman invasion

3 of 9 (see above).

From about 15 BC, the Atrebates seem to have established friendly relations with , and it was an appeal for help from the last Atrebatic king, , which provided Claudius with the pretext for the invasion on Britain in AD 43. Because of the Atrebates' support of the invasion (most notably by their leader, Togidubnus) their region remained an independent client kingdom of the Roman province of Britannia, at least until Togidubnus' death circa 80 CE when the territory of the Atrebates was divided into three civitae with one region going to the Regni, and with () being the administrative centre of the largest part (including modern Berkshire, , and Hampshire).

Dobunni The Dobunni (sometimes known as Dubunni) were amongst the largest tribes of Britannia, with a territory that covered large extents of the Severn Valley and the Cotswolds. They were another tribe that issued pre-Roman coinage and from these coins it can be determined that the Dobunni were divided into northern and southern sub-groupings. The Dobunni were a wealthy agrarian peoples who were already fairly Romanized by the time the Romans invaded. As a result they did not resist the invasion and may well have been amongst the first to submit to Roman rule. After the conquest the Dobunnic settlement of Bagendon in (the largest in their territory) was supplanted by the Roman city of (). Many of the Dobunni did very well from the Roman conquest, as can be attested by the large number of wealthy villas in the region.

As an agrarian peoples the Dobunni seemed to have revered deities of agriculture and fertility above all, which may well explain the large number of dedications to the Genii Cucullati in their territory.

Silures The were the tribe of the area that now covers the Brecon Beacons and the Valleys of South . Living in the high ground the Silures, unlike their Dobunni relatives offered strong resistance to the Romans. Indeed, between 45–57 CE it is probably fair to say that they led the British opposition to the westwards advance of the . As a result, though we know little of how they lived day to day, many of the leading Roman writers (notably Pliny, Ptolemy and Tacitus) mention them by name. Tacitus describes them as a 'strong and warlike nation', but by the early 60s CE they had been occupied by the Romans. However, the Silures' bitter and concerted resistance may explain why they were only granted self-governing civitas status during the early second century CE with the administrative centre being at ().

Demetae These were the people of the fertile lands of south-western Wales. Like the Dumnonii they were an agrarian peoples living in small settlements and like most of the other agrarian tribes they both acquiesced to and adapted readily to Roman rule. The only real garrisons in the territory of the Demetae were those on their eastern border, which may well have been there to protect them from the far more aggressive Silures. The tribe was granted civitas status early during the conquest, with its administrative capital at Demetarum (Caerfyrddin []). Like the Dumnonii the Demetae also maintained close links with Armorica (Brittany) well into post-Roman times. The name of the Demetae is derived from that of their patron warrior deity Demetos and it is this deity (and the tribe named after him) that provide the name for the modern Welsh county of Dyfed. Thus they are the People of the God of Mead.

Ordovices The territory of the covered most of what is today mid and west Wales. Their neighbours were the Demetae to the south, the Silures to the east and the Deceangli to the north. They were a war-like peoples living in small fortified farmsteads. After the Roman invasion in 43 CE it was to the Ordovices that Caractacos fled to seek refuge. He managed to stir the Ordovices into rebellion and they successfully resisted the Romans for almost a quarter of a century. It was only in 77–78 CE that the Roman general, , finally defeated the Ordovices. Unlike the Silures, however, the Ordovices were granted civitas status quite soon after their conquest.

Gangani The territory of the covered most of what is today the Llŷn Peninsula in North-West Wales. Their neighbours were the Ordovices to the east. They were seem to have war-like peoples living in fortified farmsteads (a number of these stone-built forts still survive on the Llŷn Peninsula, most notably at Tre'r Ceiri). The tribe

4 of 9 shares its name with an Irish tribe who occupied the region now known as Leinster. It seems that the Llŷn Gangani were an offshoot of the Irish Gangani as the name Llŷn is etymologically derived from the same root as the Irish Leinster. After the Roman invasion this tribe was probably kept in check by the garrison of the fort at Pen Llystyn which may well mark the border between the lands of the Ordovices and the Gangani. The name of the tribe is contained in the Roman name for the Llŷn Peninsula, Ganganorum Promontorium, found in Ptolemy's Geography, which literally means 'The headland of the Gangani'.

Deceangli The Deceangli were the tribe of what today is north Wales and Mona (Môn []). The Deceangli were targeted for conquest as the Romans considered the as playing a crucial role in encouraging the resistance against Rome. The centre for British druidry seems to have been in Mona, which is why the island was targeted. However, the Deceangli were a warlike tribe (as detailed in Tacitus' Agricola) and it wasn't until 60 CE (the time of the Boudicca revolt) that Mona was invaded and the druids were slaughtered. The Deceangli were another people and this may be one of the reasons they Romans for almost seventeen years.

Catuvellauni Even before the time of Julius Caesar the Catuvellauni were a large and powerful tribe, their territories covering most of modern , and southern . Allied tribes also probably gave them a foothold in and north-western Oxfordshire. The Catuvellauni began minting coins quite early and from these we know that around 10 CE a leader arose, known as Tasciovanus who founded a large royal and ritual centre ad (). Through conquest and alliance he began the process that linked the Catuvellauni, Trinovantes and Cantiaci into a single grouping. This tightening of links between the three tribes (who already shared similar lifestyles and beliefs) culminated in the rule of Cunobelinos. However, after this leader's death (somewhere around the late 30s CE) the kingdom was riven by the rivalries of his successors. This internal strife was used as one of the excuses by Claudius to invade Britain in 43 CE, as the Catuvellauni were one of the most pro-Roman of the British peoples. This probably explains why Verulamium became on of the very first civitae of the new province of Britannia.

Etymologically the name of this tribe can be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements: *katu- (battle) and *welo- (good) thus the Catuvellauni are those who are 'good in battle'; perhaps with the sense of 'Foremost in Battle'.

Iceni The have to be one of the best-known of the Brythonic tribes. As a coin-issuing tribe it is known that the Iceni occupied the modern counties of , as well as the major part of and eastern Cambridgeshire. The Iceni seems to be an agglomeration of smaller tribes that grew to dominance in the period between 200 and 50 BCE. The various gold hoards obtained from Iceni territories (including the Snettisham torcs) indicate that the Iceni were a wealthy peoples. Unlike their southern neighbours, however, the Iceni seem to have actively shunned contact with the Roman world. This may explain why, when the Romans granted the Iceni the status of civitas they ignored the traditional centres at Snettisham and and instead founded a new city at Caistor (). Despite this, the Iceni were initially hospitable to the Roman invaders. So much so that (the ruler at the time) became a client king of the Romans. However, after his death (just as would later happen to the Atrebates) the kingdom was incorporated into the Roman province and a spate of very harsh rule ensued. As a result of these abuses, in 60 CE Prasutagus' widow, Boudicca, led what was to become the most successful revolt against Roman rule in Britain.

Coritani The Coritani seem to have been a loose confederation of mainly agrarian tribes whose economy seems to have been based predominantly on cattle. Their area of influence stretched from modern Leicestershire up through Nottinghamshire, and into South . Like most of the other agrarian tribes the Coritani seem to have readily embraced Roman rule. Prior to this point, the Coritani had their own capital at Lindum (Lincoln) and minted their own coinage. After the conquest, the Coritani civitas was governed from Ratae Corieltauorum (). One reason the the Coritani acquiesced to Roman rule so readily was that the Romans aided in their defence against their more warlike western neighbours, the . That the Coritani are a conglomeration of peoples is made more likely by their name which is derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic *koryo- (troop, tribe) and tank-(j)e/o- (join) thus they are 'the joined tribes'.

5 of 9 Lying at the heart of Britain, the Cornovii civitas had one of the largest of all tribal centres at Viroconium (). Yet, despite this, the Cornovii themselves are shrouded in mystery; however it is likely that the members of this tribe lived in the areas of the modern-day counties of Staffordshire, and Cheshire. Etymologically the tribe's name is derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic *karno- (horn, hoof). Thus the Cornovii are the 'people of the horn'; or perhaps more probably they are the 'people of the horned god'.

Brigantes It is known from a number of dedications and temple monuments that the Brigantes were actually a federation of many smaller peoples whose territory was centred on the region of the . At the time of the Roman conquest, some of the smaller tribes that made-up the Brigantes were the Setanti of , the Lopacares, the Corionototae and the Tectoverdi of the Tyne Valley and the Textoverdi. Unusually, after the Roman Conquest the Brigantes were formed into a single large cavitate that seems to have covered much of modern-day Yorkshire, Cleveland, Durham and Lancashire. By the first century CE the Brigantes had built a large capital in Stanwick, .

Like many of the southern tribes, the Brigantes had a defined monarchy and are though to be derived originally from northern Gaul. At the time of the invasion it seems as if they were ruled from Stanwick by Cartimundia, who was pro-Roman, though her husband was anti-Roman. Cartimundia was victorious on this occasion, but over the years the warlike Brigantes revolted several times. The last of these was put down in 79 CE by Ostorius when the Brigantes became a Roman civitas with an administrative centre at (Aldborough in North Yorkshire). Other major Brigantian settlements were at Calcaria () and (), then somewhere around 100 CE the broke from the confederation of he Brigantes and were given their own civitas (see below) centred around Carlisle.

Etymologically the Brigantes are the 'people of the goddess (her name literally means 'The Highest'. It is likely that in the post-Roman period the Brigantes evolved into the kingdom of who's last (and arguable greatest) ruler was Rheged.

Setantii The Setantii are known only from a mention in Ptolemy's Geography where he names a Portus Setantiorus to the north of Moricambe Aestuarium (Morcombe Bay). Though Ptolemy's Portus Setantiorum has never been positively identified, but it is thought to have been located on the Fylde near the mouth of the River Wyre near to the modern fishing town of Fleetwood in Lancashire. This entry in the Geography can be translated as the 'Seaport of the Setantii' and it remains the only positive evidence we have for this tribe's existence. It is likely that they were a sept of the Brigantes who ruled the entire north of during the Romano-British period. The Brigantes were an agglomeration of many smaller tribes who came under the dominion of a tribal overlord, perhaps based somewhere on the Yorkshire moors, as their civitas capital during the Roman administration was at Isurium Brigantum (Aldborough, North Yorkshire). The larger septs of this tribe included the Parisii of North Humberside and the Carvetii of (see below).

Parisii The Parisii were a small grouping living in the region of modern-day East Yorkshire. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Parisii were primarily agrarian and unusually for a British tribe they buried their dead in large cemeteries. This was not a British practice, but was common in northern Gaul during the same period (300–100 BCE). This has led some to link the Brythonic Parisii with the Parisii tribe of the region in Gaul. Were these two tribes originally related? This is certainly an intriguing possibility, though the question may never be completely resolved. Despite their burial practices, the Parisii in all other respects behaved like their Brythonic neighbours; though they survived as a distinct grouping into Roman times when they were granted the status of civitas with their administrative capital centred upon (Brough on ).

Carvetii Originally probably an independent tribe, it seems that the Carvetii had been subsumed into the Brigantes and it was not until around 100 CE when the Carvetii broke from the confederation of he Brigantes and were given their own civitas centred around Luguvalium (Carlisle). The separate identity of this tribe during Roman times may help to explain why the later Brythonic kingdom of Rheged was split into a small northern and a much larger

6 of 9 southern regions.

Corionototae Little is known of the Corionototae tribe, save that they appear to have been a sept (or sub-tribe of the powerful Brigantes, rulers of much of during the Roman period). The Corionototae dwelt in the area around Corstopitum (, ) where they are named in the RIB 1142 altarstone inscription: LEG A... Q CALPVRNIVS CONCESSINI VS PRAEF EQ CAESA CORIONOTOTARVM MANV PRAESENTISSIMI NVMINIS DEI V S (The Legate of the [...] for cutting-down an armed band of Corionototae, Quintus Calpurnius Concessinius, Prefect of Cavalry, fulfills his vow to the spirit of the most omnipresent god.) The name of the Corionototae would seem to be etymologically, if not tribally related to that of the Irish tribe, the Coriondi.

Novantae The remain an almost total enigma as almost nothing of their culture before the Roman invasion has survived. They seem to have inhabited the region of south-western Scotland that in the post-Roman period would become the southern part of the Brythonic kingdom of Ystradclud (). The Novantae seem to have been primarily an agrarian peoples but there is little evidence for their settlements. As a people on the borders between Roman Britannia and Pictland there is little known about these peoples even from the Roman records.

Votadini The territory of the seems to have extended from the region of modern-day to Northumberland. Like their neighbours the Brigantes the Votadini seemed to have been formed as a confederation of many smaller tribes. Archaeologically the Votadini are separate from other northern tribes in that they used walls, banks and ditches to surround and defend their farms. They are characterized by offerings of fine metal objects made to the gods, but seem not to have worn the massive amulets which is a feature of the Brigantes.

The Votadini also seem to have employed hillforts, with three massive versions in within the boundaries of their territory being Yeavering Bell, Eildon Seat and . By the time of the Roman invasion these hillforts had probably been in use for at least a millennium. The Votadini are the same people who later became the Brythonic (derived from the Old Cymric Gwotodin the Brythonic peoples of he Edinburgh region. The name of the tribe may be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements: *wo-trīk-e/o- (stay, dwell) (stay, dwell) and *d3no- (fort, rampart). Thus the Votadini are the 'fort dwellers'.

Selgovae As a tribe dwelling beyond 's wall little is known about the . In his Geography, Ptolemy places the Selgovae in the Southern uplands of Scotland, though the precise extent of their territory is unknown. However, many modern scholars place them in the Tweed Basin, a site adjacent to the Votadini. Roman records tell us that the Selgovae were conquered in 79–80 CE, at the same time as the Votadini. As a result it is not entirely clear whether the Selgovae and Votadini were truly separate peoples or not. If the Selgovae can be considered a separate tribe then their main settlement was probably at Elidon Seat. The tribe's name can be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic *selgƒ- (hunt). Thus the Selgovae were 'The Hunters'.

Damnonii The are a tribe that lived in the region of Scotland that today includes and Strathclyde. The lands of the Damnonii were conquered by the Romans and occupied continually until the Romans retreated south to the line of Hadrian's wall. Etymologically the name of the Damnonii is essentially a cognate of that of the southern tribe of the Dumnonii. The name of both tribes may be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic element: *dubno- (deep, world). Thus the Damnonii/Dumnonii are 'we who are the world'. The land of the Dumnonii in the post-Roman period evolved into the Brythonic kingdom of Ystradclud (Strathclyde) which was sacred to the goddess Clōta.

Epidii Almost nothing is known about this tribe, save that they lived in the region that corresponds to modern Kintyre and the islands of Arran, Jura and . Later subsuming of this tribe into the Brythonic kingdom of Ystradclud suggests that they were probably a client or (or at the very least allied to) the Damnonii.

7 of 9 Caledonii Beyond the tribes mentioned already we move into terra incognito as far as the Romans were concerned. Beyond the Strathclyde region we fall off the Roman map and enter the unknown realm. Which is not so say that we know nothing about this region. Ptolemy's Geography gives us the names of many of these tribes (though his geography was often vague) and the northern forays of the Romans during the early days of the occupation does give us some information about a number of the tribes. Foremost amongst these are the Caledones or Caledonii. The Romans used this name both for a single tribe that lived in the valleys between modern Inverness and Fort William and for all the tribes living in the north of Scotland. The various other tribes of this region include the Cornovii and Smertae of Caithness, the Caereni of the western Highlands and the Carnonacae and Creones of the western Highlands. The lived around the Cairngorms.

It seems that a leader called Calgacus arose to unite the warriors from all these disparate tribes at the in 84 CE. The Romans won the day, but mostly because of the terrain and the weather they were never successfully able to subdue the highlands. Tacitus describes the Caledonii as red-haired and long limbed and the Romans admired these barbarians for their abilities to endure cold, hunger and hardship.

Taexali This grouping lived in the Grampian region and were agrarian in nature, dwelling in small, undefended, farmsteads. They seem to share much in common with their southern neighbours, the , but appear to have been a separate people. The were defeated by the Romans in 84 CE, but dwelling above the (which became the de facto northern border) they were never permanently occupied.

Venicones This tribe lived in the region of modern Tayside. The lands of the Venicones were used by the Romans several times to create encampments as they moved northwards, but they were never permanently occupied. From the archaeological evidence they seem to be very similar to the Taexali in that they made offerings of decorated metal objects in bogs and lakes and possessed large amulets which could weigh up to 1.5kg apiece. Like the Taexali the Venicones seem to have been primarily agrarian, though little evidence of their settlements has survived.

If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient , then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.

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